Receptacle for electrodes



Nov. 23, 1954 J MACKEY 2,695,389

RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRODES Filed June 17, 1955 I INVENTOR. I THOMAS d MACKEY A'r'roxz/v United States Patent Office RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRODES Thomas J. Mackey, Alameda, Calif. Application June 17, 1953, Serial No. 362,379 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-57) My invention relates to receptacles for electrodes, particularly tubular electrodes of the type commonly utilized in neon signs, X-ray equipment and similar highvoltage electrical apparatus.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a receptacle which will accommodate a pair of separate electrodes, fully insulated from each other and from surrounding objects, and by which the electrodes and their connections may be elfectually housed, supported and protected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle, and mounting means therefor, which may be readily attached to a length of conduit through which conductors may be extended in insulated relation to each other to separate electrodes held in insulated relationship on the receptacle.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for neon sign electrodes which Will facilitate the mounting and adjustment of the electrodes and their electrical connections; and which will effect material savings in time, labor and material in construction and installation.

A still further object is to provide an insulating receptacle of the character described, and a mounting fitting therefor, which will permit the receptacle to be readily adjusted to a desired alinement while tightly connected to a conduit.

It is also an object to provide improved contact means for connecting the terminals of electrodes to conductors extended thereto through the receptacle.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description wherein is explained that form of my invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated form since the invention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the receptacle of my invention, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-sectional view of the receptacle, illustrating the manner in which the electrodes and conductors are associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partially diagrammatic, indicating the relationship of the receptacle and the tubes and current supply of a neon sign, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation of the receptacle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, the electrode receptacle of my invention comprises a body 1 formed of porcelain, glass, plastic or other suitable insulating material of non-combustible nature. The body 1 is preferably of a generally cylindrical shape. An end recess 2 is formed in one end of the body to provide a seat for a mounting fitting designated in general by the numeral 3. Side recesses are formed in opposite sides of the body 1. The side recesses extend longitudinally of the body and are of a depth sufficient to accommodate the terminal electrodes 6 of neon tubes 7 such as utilized in neon signs. Passages 8 are formed in the body 1, said passages extending from the end recess 2 to points near the ends of the side recesses 4 remote from the end recess.

The mounting fitting 3 may be made of metal, plastic,

2,695,389 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 or other suitable material. One end of the fitting is shaped to fit into the recess 2, and is provided with a flange 9 to seat against the end of the body 1. The fitting is of circular cross-section and is rotatable relative to the body 1 of the receptacle.

The fitting 3 is detachably and adjustably secured to the body 1 by means of a spring clip 11 which spans the fitting with its side portions engaging the flange 9 on opposite sides of the fitting. Loops 12 engage lugs 14 formed upon opposite sides of the body 1 near the recessed end thereof. The lugs are centered on a diameter normal to the place upon which the recesses 4 are centered, so that the loops will be relatively widely spaced and fully insulated from the tubes 7 and electrodes 6.

The fitting 3 is provided with an extension 15, threaded as at 16, for engaging the end of a length of conduit 17. Conductors 18 are extended through the conduit 17 from a transformer 19 to the receptacle, and are extended through the passages 8 to the ends of the side recesses 4.

Spring contacts 21 are provided for effecting electrical connection of the conductors 18 and terminal wires 22 of the electrodes 6. The contacts 21 are made of spring brass or other suitable conductive material. End portions 23 of the contacts are doubled upon themselves in back of the central body portion of each contact to form loops 24 into which the ends of the conductors 18 and terminal wires 22 may be pressed, as best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The extreme ends of the contacts are sprung into seats formed by notches 25 in the walls of the recesses 4. A cover 26 of porcelain, glass, plastic, or other insulating material is fitted over the end of the receptacle body to cover and protect the electrodes and their electrical connections.

The receptacle is particularly intended for use in connecting neon tubes to the conductors supplying current thereto from the transformer. In this connection, the fitting 3 is designed to thread onto a length of conduit which will accommodate two conductors such as the GTO wires now commonly used for such service. The receptacle will house the terminal electrodes of two sections of neon tubing, and makes unnecessary the duplication of materials, time and labor heretofore commonly involved in installing separate receptacles and connections for each section of tubing. The ends of the conductors and electrode terminal wires may be easily and quickly inserted into the loops 23 where an eifective connection is effected through the contact members 21. Contact may be maintained by the resilience of the loops 23, or the ends of the wire may be bent over.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A receptacle for electrodes of the neon tube type comprising a body of insulating material longitudinally recessed on opposite sides to receive separate electrodes and having passages extending from one end of the body to the ends of the side recesses near the opposite end ofthe body, a fitting mounted upon the body over the ends of the passages and provided with means for rigidly attaching the fitting to a length of conduit through which electrical conductors may be extended to and through the receptacle passages, and contacts mounted within the side recesses to receive and connect the terminals of the electrodes and corresponding conductors.

2. A receptacle for electrodes of the neon tube type comprising a body of insulating material longitudinally recessed on opposite sides to receive separate electrodes and having passages extending from one end of the body to the ends of the side recesses near the opposite end of the body, a fitting mounted upon the body over the ends of the passages and provided with means for rigidly attaching the fitting to a length of conduit through which electrical conductors may be extended to and through the receptacle passages, contacts mounted within the side recesses to receive and connect the terminals of the electrodes and corresponding conductors, and an insulating cover fitted over the body from the end opposite the fitting.

3. A receptable for electrodes of the neon tube type comprising a cylindrical body of insulating material having a recess in one end and side recesses longitudinally disposed upon opposite sides of the body to receive separate electrodes, said body also having passages extending through the body from the end recess to points near the ends of the side recesses, a fitting rotatably seating in the end recess and provided with means for attaching the fitting and receptacle to a conduit through which conductors may be extended to and through the passages, means securing the fitting to the body in rotatably adjustable relation thereto, and spring contact clips spanning the ends of the side recesses near the ends of the passages and having loops for resiliently gripping adjacent ends of the conductors and electrode terminals.

4. A receptacle for electrodes of the neon tube type comprising a cylindrical body of insulating material having a recess in one end and side recesses longitudinally disposed upon opposite sides of the body to receive separate electrodes, said body also having passages extending through the body from the end recess to points near the ends of the side recesses, lugs upon the outer surface of the body near the recessed end thereof, a fitting rotatably seated upon the recessed end of the body, a spring clip engaging the fitting and provided with loops engaging the lugs for securing the body and fitting together in rotatably adjustable relationship, an extension upon the fitting for rigidly securing the fitting to a conduit through which conductors may be extended to and through the body passages, and contacts mounted within the side recesses to receive and connect the terminals of the electrodes and corresponding conductors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,208,812 Marone July 23, 1940 2,361,699 Malczewski Oct. 31, 1944 2,374,228 Miller Apr. 24, 1945 

